/ sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt; NAmE / adjective
1.
large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed :
a highly significant discovery
The results of the experiment are not statistically significant .
There are no significant differences between the two groups of students.
Your work has shown a significant improvement.
It is significant that girls generally do better in examinations than boys.
—compare insignificant
2.
having a particular meaning :
It is significant that he changed his will only days before his death.
3.
[ usually before noun ] having a special or secret meaning that is not understood by everyone
SYN meaningful :
a significant look / smile
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in sense 2): from Latin significant- indicating, from the verb significare indicate, portend, from signum token.